Aibu Retiring at 55 - 30 years of idleness?

It depends. If you retire and watch TV all day and not much else. Then yes, you can get boring. No more so than someone who has only got their job to talk about mind you!

But there are a multitude of ways to pass the time that are interesting and satisfying. If you can’t see that I’m afraid you lack imagination!

Amen to this.

Erm so they have the financial security to make that choice and you want to know if YABU because you're too busy and don't want to retire and think they will become boring?
Perhaps they find your interest in everyone else life choices boring... whatever they become is up to them if it doesn't fit with you anymore then you adapt or find new friends.
I'm retired age early 50s for other reasons and find it restricting in a lot of ways because of other factors but not once would I consider how Interesting I am to others to be a motivating factor... couldn't care less what others think

How does working make you a much more interesting person than someone who is retired? Do you have the same opinion of people who can't work due to disabilities or health issues?

I'm sorry to tell you this but listening to someone else drone on about their work is also fucking boring.....might come as a massive shock but one wants to know about your job.

It's not for me, but that's because I faffed my 20s away and didn't fully get launched into my career until my late thirties. I hope to keep working till I drop, because I love it.

Everyone is different. Some people like the quiet life. I retired at 62. I had caring responsibilities first to my mother then my husband until I was 70. Now I live on my own and I love the days when I have no plans. I read my book, potter in the garden a bit, walk my dog, do keep fit online. I do meet up with friends some days or see family but the relaxed pace and no responsibilities is great and not boring to me. I live as I like and not to impress anyone else.

People who retire early might do so because the workplace is no longer valuing them. It might be because they are looking after elderly parents. And for some, grandchildren too.
And they are worn out. And don’t want to get to 67 and find themselves completely frazzled altogether.

Making it so people cannot retire early ( which I wondered was the theme behind the post) will show up gaps in society such as elder care and childcare. Really bad idea.

Life isn't a competition.
You're not ready to enjoy retirement until you realise that.

DH and I are in our early 50's and would love to retire and just potter.

DH has worked a very physical job since he was 16 and is ready to give it all up (he has plans to leave work in 18 months time). His best friend has worked like a trojan all his life and was planning on retiring next year at 60 but now has just 3 months to live and will never see that retirement , spend time with his wife and grand kids or get to potter in his garden.

If you are happy to keep working then carry on but if someone wants to retire and do sod all for the rest of their lives then that is entirely their choice (I know which one I'd rather do).

I resigned from my professional job at 50 and I haven’t bothered trying to find another. So, I guess I have retired. I am not bored, my youngest is still at school and I still do a lot of ferrying him around after school etc. I spend the rest of the time going to the gym, gardening, various diy projects etc. I don’t think I have to work to be interested or interesting, and I am not
the committee type.
None of us know how long we’ve got- my ‘fit, healthy’ mum was walking 6 miles per day a week before she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 71. She died 7 weeks later. I am enjoying life while I can!

I'm 54. Can't see me retiring anytime soon. Id be bored Although I'm not a wage slave to an employer so I can take a couple of months a year to travel

My partner retired two years ago. He's doing e done travelling but day to day he reads, watches tv and goes for a walk ( same route). It would drive me mad living like fhat. He had all these things he was " going" to do when he retired and done none of them

So, all you talk about then is your bloody boring job!

My parents work together in a couples job. My mum wanted to retire at 50, they are still going at 68 because my dad recognises all he does is play tennis. He’s tried other sports over the years but I think he’d rather work than golf. He’s seen some of his friends slow down, and hates what’s that looks like- so they carry on working…

Is that all there is to do where you live? Work, walk, golf or tennis? I couldn’t live somewhere like that. It’s great you find your work interesting. I don’t have many friends who talk a lot about their work but apart from the niceties and the more serious stuff it’s deeply uninteresting to hear about someone else’s day to day job! If you enjoy it you carry on, but others can find interesting and enjoyable ways to fill their time and I don’t blame them.

Good on them! Life is short.
Some people don’t see work as the most important thing in their lives. And that’s ok.

You have an odd view on life and what makes people interesting. ..

There is more to life than just work.

These people are perfectly right to enjoy themselves while they still have their health.

Nothing wrong with focusing on hobbies, sports, family, friends, travel or just relaxing.

So many people in this country have been brainwashed into thinking their 'value' is only tied to their job and mKing more money for their boss/the governmenf to waste. It is sad really.

Hi, I don't think the way you feel is normal at 48. I would get a check-up at the doc. I felt like you do, and it turned out that my blood sugar was too high, making me pre-diabetic. High blood sugar makes you very tired. Good luck!

My FIL died suddenly at 55. My own Dad couldn't give up (despite several decent pensions) Still working in his 80s.

I wanted something between the two. Finished at 58.

I've done a lot of DIY in our house (which was neglected somewhat whilst I was working) DIY in children's houses. A lot of volunteer work.

Still busy - but not over worked as before.

But each to their own.

Thank you. You have just inspired me to open a brokerage account!

I said YABU because it's a completely personal choice.

No idea why rest of my post disappeared!
…..means I’m more than FT - I also volunteer for 2 charities and provide care for DM
Hoping to have more time to travel when I retire from my main job at 67 and also spend time with DGD and friends
I don’t have enough time for cleaning or gardening so outsource that where I can

Absolutely, bored of people who bang on about work so we clag up your free time talking about pottery and gardening and coffee.

YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

DM retired at 51 as DF was 65, they did voluntary work out of U.K. 6 months of year and more local volunteering rest of year until DF was mid 80s when travel insurance became too expensive
DF died at 93 and was mostly active up until then cycling, walking, gardening etc
DM IMO became more and more insular even before he died - now has dementia at 87 - she gave up after he died and rarely moved from the sofa or tv
Im 62 and started a new part time role last year which I can continue until 75, my other job hours means i

About 25 years ago now, I got a job as a manager. I cut AOB at the end of the meetings as they went on and on and on. If it wasn't important enough to be an actual thing, then until it is, lets not hang on to discuss it randomly when EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY ME.

One staff member cried in the toilets at not being allowed to AOB us to death at the end of every fucking meeting.

I don’t fancy it at all. Also everyone I know who retired young is fucking boring!